Where do I even begin with Jake and Joanie’s wedding? The whole day felt like I was part of a magazine photo-shoot. The venue, the food, the glam squad, the video crew, and—most importantly—the wedding party and the couple themselves—it was all such a surreal, “pinch me” kind of experience.

Their venue of choice was the beautiful Laurel Point Inn, tucked right along the harbor in downtown Victoria. It was also just a hop, skip, and a jump from the Parliament buildings, which ended up being one of those truly magazine-worthy backdrops for photos. The weather was perfect—warm but not too hot for an August day—and everyone in the bridal party was so eager to lend a helping hand with dress bustling, makeup touch-ups, and even sprinting off to grab me a bottle of water when I realized I hadn’t had a sip all day—typical me.

While it might not have been a highlight of the photos, yes—Joanie was doing her best to hide her growing baby bump, and honestly, she pulled it off incredibly well considering she was already over halfway to delivery day. By the end of the night, I remember feeling so impressed by this mama-to-be; she never skipped a beat from morning to last call.

As the evening unfolded, the celebrations only got better. Traditional Filipino customs took center stage, including the lively and heartfelt money dance, the bar tab kept rising, and the night became one none of us will soon forget.